Fuse mechanism



Dec; 25, 1928. 1,696,745

v c. w. WYMAN FUSE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 10, 1923 Patented Dec. 25, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. WYMAN, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FUSE MECHANISM.

Application filed August 10, 1923.

fuse element with a minimum of lost time and without injury to the portions of the mechanism which can be re-used.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved fuse mechanism. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved fuse mechanism of a type comprising a removable fuse plug adapted to cooperate with and be interlocked in a suitable manner with a controller. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved fuse mechanism of the type mentioned in which a cartridge fuse may be employed and readily renewed when blown. A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved fuse mechanism in which the renewal of the fuse elements is very easy and in which the blowing of the fuse elements is prevented from injuring the container for the fuse. Other objects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a controller mechanism of a type in which my improved fuse mechanism is adapted to be used, showing an illustrative form of the fuse mechanism therein with the controller locking the same in position, and with parts of the fuse mechanism broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of a portion of the fuse mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observedthat my improved fuse mechanism is employed in connection with the controller mechanism generallydesignated 1, which is in commercial use upon a wellknown type of mining machine. This controller mechanism comprises a handle 2which carries interlocking mechanism 3 adapted to hold a fuse plug against removal and to prevent its insertion in the event that the controller handle 2 is not in off position, a pin 4: being provided for the purpose of engaging with a suitable projection upon a fuse plug to prevent the insertion or removal of the latter except at the desired. time. As shown in Serial No. 656,691.

Fig. 1, the handle 2 is in on position and accordingly the fuse is locked against removal by the pin 1. Other mechanism is provided for locking the controller handle against movement when the fuse plug is removed, this being designated generally 6. The mechanisms so far described are fully disclosed in a Patent No. 1,556,825, granted to me October 13, 1925. A fuse plug generally designated 7 and constituting the illustrative embodiment of my invention is provided to cooperate with the mechanism previously described.

The fuse plug 7 comprises a head member 8 formed of insulating material and having an annular grasping portion 9, a reduced portion 10 adjacent the grasping portion forming a shoulder 11, and a still further re duced portion 12 between which and the portion 10 a shoulder 13 is formed. A sleeve 15 carrying a projection 16 which constitutes the projection with which the pine previously described ooacts is adapted to surround with one end thereof the reduced portion 12 of the head member 8 and to project beyond the portion 12 to provide a socket in which a second insulating member 1? may be received at one end. The member 17 is in the form of a hollow generally cylindrical member having a reduced portion 18 substantially closed and adapted to telescope with the sleeve 15 and a slightly thicker portion 19 whose junction with the portion 18 provides a shoulder 20 which engages the sleeve 15 at 7 its forward end. A bore 21 is formed in the member 17 and constitutes a chamber adapted to receive mechanism which will shortly be described. The portion 18 is perforated by a small opening through which a screw 22 secured in the head member 8 may pass.

The fuse enclosing and supporting mechanism comprises a hollow cylindrical member 25 of insulating material, to whose opposite endsheads or contact members 26, 27 are secured, herein by threading and then by riveting. The head or contact member 26 has a pair of segmental openings 28 and 29 which are formed between the inner wall of the head member and a transversely extending bridge member 30 which is integral with the head member 26. The member 30 provides a seat 31 for one of the flexible terminals for the fuse member hereinafter described. The surface 31 may be formed as shown, or may be provided at the bottom of a small recess is thepor- 'with the fuse from theother portions.

tion 30. A screw 32 threaded into the member 30 is employed to clamp the fuse terminal in position. is provided with a collar member 33 which is of such size as to center it properly in the member 17 and an axially extending threaded socket 34 is also provided to cooperate with the screw 22 to hold the parts 8, 15, 17, 30, 26, 25, and 27 all in assembled relation. 4

The head member 27 is provided with an internal'shoulder or collar 36 which forms a seat upon which a segmental conductor mem ber 37 may be clamped. A threaded plug 38 is screwed into the end of the member 27 for the purpose of clamping a fuse terminal betweenthe same and the member 37. A cartridge fuse 39 preferably filled with some noninfiammable material is arranged within the bore 40 of the cylinder member 25 and has a V pair or flexible terminals ll and 42,

The terminal ll is preferably provided with a slot which permits itto he slid past the shank of the screw 32 when the latter is somewhat backed out and then to be clamped when the screw is tightened up. The terminal :2 is adapted to be bent at right angles as shown in Fig. 2' and have its portion 42, which is herein shown as disposed in a plane at right angles to the axis of the cylinder member 25, clamped between the members 37 and 38.

From the foregoing description the construction and mode of use of my improved fuse plug will be readily understood. The fuse plug will be inserted in position as indicated in Fig. 1 and the contact or end members 26,. and 27 will serve to connect a pair of annular contact members l3 and 44C in the controller casing. Should the fuse blow, the handle 2 will be brought to .olf position and thereby release the pin a from the member 16. The whole fuse mechanism generally, ineluding elements 8, 15,16, 17 and 39, can then be removed bodily, after which the operator holding the fuse mechanism in his hand may turn the head 8 to unscrew the screw 22 from the socket 34 and it will then be possible to withdraw the parts 25', 26, 27 and 30 together The screw 32 will then be turned back suiiiciently torelease the terminal 41. The plug 38 may then be unscrewed and the fuse 39 can then be inserted, the segmental element- 37 dropped in torest upon the collar 36, the fuse terminal 42 bent at right angles to hold it inposition, and the plug 38 screwed home. derstood that the otherslotted terminal ll will have slid into place between the head of the screw 32 and the member 30 and the screw 32 will accordingly when tightened down hold it firmly. The parts will-then be assembled again and by turning the head 8 the screw 22' will draw the whole into proper assembled relationship. Due to the use of the cartridge type fuse 39, the member 25 will be protected from any burning and the entire The member 30 at its rear end" It will be un plug will accordingly last for a long period It will be evident that to assemble and disas semble this fuse plug a screw driver will be the only tool necessary and accordingly fuses can be readily renewed in the mine without any difhculty or delay.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in p notice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fuse member, a hollow cylinder of insulating material, heads of conducting ma.- terial at each end thereof, one of said heads providing a seat extending longitudinally of the cylinder and the other an annular shoulder, a cartridge fuse having projecting terminals one adapted to engage said seat and the other to be bent into a position n i" to the plane of said shoulder, a scgi conducting element adapted to be supported on said shoulder between the fuse cartridge and bent terminal, means for forcing said element onto said shoulder and said bent terminal into contact withsaid element, and an insulated grasping portion connected to said first mentioned head.

2. In a fuse member, ahollow cylinder of insulating material, heads of conducting material at each end thereof, one of said heads providing a seat extending longitudinally of the cylinder and the'other an annular shoulder, a cartridge fuse having projecting terminals one adapted to engage said seat and the other to be bent into a position parallel to the plane of said shoulder, a segmental conducting element adapted to be supported on said shoulder between the fuse cartridge and bent terminal, means for forcing said element onto said shoulder and said bent terminal into contact with said element, and means for holding said fuse in position including a locking element and means for supporting the same secured to; said first mentioned head.

3. In a fuse member, a hollowcylinder of insulating material, heads of conducting material at each end thereof, one of said heads providing a seat extending longitudinally of the cylinder and the other an annular shoulder, a cartridge fuse havin projecting terminals one adapted to engage said seatand the other to be bent into position parallel to the plane of said shoulder, a segmental f conducting element adapted to be supported on. said shoulder between the fuse cartridge and bent terminal, means for forcing said first mentioned head, a locking element comprising a sleeve surrounding said insulating sleeve, an insulating head having a portion projecting into said sleeve associated with said locking element, and a screw carried by said insulating head and engaging said first mentioned head to hold the parts assembled.

4. In a fuse member, a hollow cylinder of insulating material, heads of conducting material at each end thereof, one of said heads providing a seat extending longitudinally of the cylinder and the other an annular shoulder, a cartridge fuse having projecting terminals one adapted to engage said seat and the other to be bent into a position parallel to the plane of said shoulder, means cooperating to clamp said first mentioned terminal to said seat, segmental conducting element adapted to be supported on said shoulder between the fuse cartridge and bent terminal, a threaded plug of conducting material cooperating with said second mentioned head and operative to force said element onto said shoulder and to clamp said bent terminal between itself and said element, an insulating sleeve enclosing the seat on said first mentioned head, a locking element comprising a sleeve surrounding said insulating sleeve, an insulating head having a portion projecting into said sleeve associated with said locking element, and a screw carried by said insulating head and engaging said first mentioned head to hold the parts assembled.

5. In combination, a fuse holder comprising a cylinder of insulating material, external contact forming heads of conducting material at each end thereof, means for holding said fuse holder in position comprising means carried by and formed integral with one of said heads for receiving a screw, a sleeve member abutting against said head and having at its opposite end a portion forming a transversely extending end wall having an opening therethrough, and a screw having an insulatingv head and extending through the opening in the end wall of said sleeve and cooperating with said screw receiving means to hold said sleeve and said fuse holder in assembled relation, and means for mounting a fuse in said holder including a fuse terminal seat Within said sleeve member when the latter is in assembled position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES W. WVYMAN. 

